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DeKalb elections board approves vendor-led $1 million outreach campaign, contingent on county approval
Summary
The board authorized staff to proceed with a vendor-driven media campaign for voter outreach — including billboards, MARTA bus ads, streaming and radio — contingent on Board of Commissioners approval and county attorney sign-off; the measure passed 3–2.
The DeKalb County Board of Registration and Elections voted July 8 to approve a vendor agreement allowing staff to execute a county-funded voter outreach media campaign, subject to approval by the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners and acceptance of a contract form by the county attorney.
Executive Director Recker Smith introduced Deputy Director Dr. Harris, who said the Board of Commissioners allocated $1,000,000 for a strategic public-engagement campaign that would include billboards on major thoroughfares, MARTA bus advertising, radio and targeted streaming (OTT/CTV). “We have entertained and engaged with a consultant to provide information on strategic billboard placement, bus ads, OTT/CTV, radio,” Dr. Harris said.
Board members probed demographic targeting, ad frequencies and campaign windows. Board member Gail Lee questioned radio allocations and asked whether production costs were included in the quoted schedules; Dr. Harris said production was extra and station availability drove some date ranges. Lee urged that urban-formatted stations with higher exposures be included in the runoff period; staff said they would request edits from the consultant.
Board member Lowman and other members praised the detail in the plan and the county’s focus on equitable messaging across DeKalb. Lowman said the county’s diversity requires outreach that reflects local markets, while also recognizing vendor and station constraints.
The board approved the motion contingent on County Commission approval and authorized the executive director to sign the contract in a form acceptable to the county attorney. The vote carried 3–2.
The executive director cautioned that the agreement, because of its dollar amount, will also need BOC approval before final execution; staff said procurement is following county processes and procurement updates were shared with the board.
Board members asked staff to provide a breakdown of purchase orders and to clarify demographic targeting details and station exposures before campaign launch.
